Report Card: A to MANNA FoodBank

The Report Card issues grades A through F, and incompletes where necessary, to a variety of news items in this space.

Got an idea that makes the grade? Send it to JBuchanan@CITIZEN-TIMES.com.

Reader grade

A to the Mars Hill University cross country team, for winning their South Atlantic Conference championship for the 17th consecutive year.

That could be a possible NCAA record. Auburn University's swim team won 16 straight Southeastern Conference titles, but lost this year on the 17th try. Congratulations to this outstanding group of Mars Hill athletes.

Barney Gradman, Asheville

Staff grades

A to MANNA FoodBank for 30 years of service to those who are in danger of hunger. MANNA collects food and distributes it through 231 member agencies to more than 100,000 people in 16 Western North Carolina counties. A birthday party will be held 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Diana Wortham Theatre, complete with food, musical entertainment, a brief program and time for socializing.

D to the rules that will leave at least two Western North Carolina counties without representation if Highlands Network is folded into Smoky Mountain Center. The merged agency would oversee mental health services in 23 counties, but state law limits board membership to 21, some of whom must have specific expertise. "It's a hard sell," said Mike Edwards of Graham County, the least populous of the 23 counties.

A for the Buncombe Sheriff's Office response to a rash of break-ins and thefts in the Candler community. During the 30 days that a Community Oriented Problem Solving team was deployed in Candler, there were only 11 reports of breaking and entering and five of theft, as compared to 29 break-ins and 35 thefts in the 60 days previous. "It makes the people of the community feel a little more safe," resident Ron Plemmons said.

B to the resolution of the situation regarding traffic stops in Jackson County. After an investigation by the American Civil Liberties Union, Sheriff Jimmy Ashe agreed to stop coordinating checkpoints with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to furnish more detailed reports to the N.C. Department of Justice, use in-car cameras to monitor checkpoints and provide more training for deputies.

A to Building Bridges, which has been fostering racial understanding for 20 years with nine-week sessions twice a year that feature frank but respectful exchanges between people of different races.

The milestone will be celebrated with a potluck dinner and sharing of memories from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Mountain Area Health Education Center. The next session begins Jan. 27.

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Report Card: A to MANNA FoodBank

A to the Mars Hill University cross country team, for winning their South Atlantic Conference championship for the 17th consecutive year.